Multi-Port Transmission Line Connector

ABSTRACT

A multi-port transmission line connector ( 10 ) having a body ( 11 ) which has at least four ports and channels ( 12, 14, 16, 17 ) therein for connecting one signal transmission line ( 20 ) with multiple signal transmission lines ( 20 ) in a blasting system for transferring blasting signals, the at least four ports ( 24, 26, 27, 28 ) having a bore therethrough in which is located an inner sleeve ( 30 ) of deformable material and located between the inner sleeve ( 30 ) and the body ( 11 ) a crimpable secondary sleeve ( 32 ) such that, in use, when a shock tube ( 20 ) has been inserted into the port ( 24, 26, 27, 28 ) and passes through the inner sleeve ( 30 ), a portion of the secondary sleeve ( 32 ) is crimped thereby to deform the inner sleeve ( 30 ) and to seal against the shock tube ( 20 ) thereby retaining the shock tube ( 20 ) in position and inhibiting the ingress of water into the connector ( 10 ) through said port ( 24, 26, 27, 28 ). The connector ( 10 ) may have 5 ports ( 24, 26, 27, 28 ). The invention extends to a system and method using the connector ( 10 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a multi-port transmission line connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided amulti-port transmission line connector having a body which has at leastfour ports and channels therein for connecting one signal transmissionline with multiple signal transmission lines in a blasting system fortransferring blasting signals, the at least four ports having a borethere through, wherein in at least one of the ports is located an innersleeve of deformable material and located between the inner sleeve andthe body a crimpable secondary sleeve such that, in use, when a shocktube has been inserted into the port and passes through the innersleeve, a portion of the secondary sleeve is crimped thereby to deformthe inner sleeve and to seal against the shock tube thereby retainingthe shock tube in position and inhibiting the ingress of water into theconnector through said port.

Three of the ports may have the inner and secondary sleeves.

One of the ports may include a clip for retaining a detonator and/orshock tube therein and permits insertion thereof on site.

The inner sleeve may be made of a resiliently deformable material, forexample, a rubber or rubber like product.

The secondary sleeve may be made of a metal, for example, aluminium.

One of the channels may be taken as the input end of signal transmissionand one or more of the others, as the output end, wherein each channelis opened to a center cavity, thus enabling the input end and output endof transmission line to transfer the blasting signal through centercavity.

In a four port connector, three of the ports are preassembled with theshock tube crimped in position, with a fourth port available forassembly and/or crimping on site.

One of the pre-assembled ports may include a delay igniter in accordancewith UN 1.4S so that the transmission of the shockwave to a furtherconnector block or to a detonator or igniter may be delayed.

The size and shape of channel may match the signal transmission line.

When the signal transmission line is secured in position by crimping, itwill be retained in the port and the blasting signals are transferredthrough the center cavity.

The shock wave of one transmission line may be safely transferred to theother transmission lines.

The body may include channels which transit from the center cavity tothe ends of all channels including their transition sections, or fromthe small diameter sections at the center part to the large diametersections at the ends of all channels which form the ports.

The connector may be made of a plastics material.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided atransmission line system for connecting several detonators distributedover several boreholes and transmitting a shock wave from onetransmission line to other connected transmission lines, said systemincluding:

-   -   a multi-port transmission line connector having a body which has        at least four ports and channels therein for connecting one        signal transmission line with multiple signal transmission lines        in a blasting system for transferring blasting signals, one or        more of the four ports having a bore there through in which is        located an inner sleeve of deformable material and located        between the inner sleeve and the body a crimpable secondary        sleeve such that, in use, when a shock tube has been inserted        into the port and passes through the inner sleeve, a portion of        the secondary sleeve is crimped thereby to deform the inner        sleeve and to seal against the shock tube thereby retaining the        shock tube in position and inhibiting the ingress of water into        the connector through said port; and    -   a complementary but one number of transmission lines crimped in        position prior to bringing of the connector on site, and an        additional free signal transmission line for assembling and/or        crimping into an open port of the connector on site.

The system may include a crimping tool sized and dimensioned to crimpthe secondary sleeve of the open port when the signal transmission linehas been inserted therein thereby to secure the signal transmission linein position and to inhibit the ingress of water into the connectorblock.

The system may include one or more detonators located at remote ends ofone or more of the transmission lines.

The system may include several multi-port transmission line connectors.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided amulti-port transmission line connector having a body which has at leastfour ports and channels therein for connecting one signal transmissionline with three or more signal transmission lines in a blasting systemfor transferring blasting signals, the at least four ports having one ormore recess or slot for securing a complementary plug having two or morelateral protrusions which engage the recess or slot to secure a plug toa port.

The plug and port may be securable bayonet fitting fashion.

The plug may have a passage therethrough for securing the transmissionline within the passage thereby securing the transmission line to theplug.

The transmission line may be secure to the plug by sonic welding,chemical bonding, heat bonding, and the like.

The plug may have a finger engageable portion which facilitates rotatingthe plug in the port thereby to secure the plug in the port.

The plug may have a groove for an o-ring which, in use, is fitted withan o-ring which engages with the inner walls of the port thereby to forma seal.

One of the channels may be taken as the input end of signal transmissionand one or more of the others, as the output end, wherein each channelis opened to a center cavity, thus enabling the input end and output endof transmission line to transfer the blasting signal through centercavity.

The size and shape of channel may match the signal transmission line.

When the plug into which the signal transmission line is secured isinserted into a port from one end, it will be received and retained inthe port and the blasting signals are transferred through the centercavity.

The shock wave of one transmission line may be safely transferred to theother transmission lines.

The body may include channels which transit from the center cavity tothe ends of all channels including their transition sections, or fromthe small diameter sections at the center part to the large diametersections at the ends of all channels which form the ports, the slot orrecess being made at the end of each channel in the port, the outsidediameter of the plug having substantially the same inside diameter asthe port.

The connector may be made of a plastics material.

The plug may be made of a plastics material.

The plug may be made of a sonic welding compatible plastics material forsonicly welding to the transmission lines, typically the same or similarplastics material to that of the transmission lines.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided atransmission line system for connecting several detonators distributedover several boreholes and transmitting a shock wave from onetransmission line to other connected transmission lines, said systemincluding:

-   -   a multi-port transmission line connector having a body which has        at least four ports and channels therein for connecting one        signal transmission line with three or more signal transmission        lines in a blasting system for transferring blasting signals,        the at least four ports having one or more recess or slot for        securing a complementary plug having two or more lateral        protrusions which engage the recess or slot to secure a plug to        a port; and    -   a complementary number of plugs to the number of ports, each        plug having two or more lateral protrusions which engage the        recess or slot to secure a plug to a port and a passage        therethrough for securing the transmission line within the        passage thereby securing the transmission line to the plug.

The system may include one or more detonators located at remote ends ofone or more of the transmission lines.

One of the ports may have a transmission line clipped into it, on whichtransmission line is provided a delay element, a delay igniter, and/or adelay detonator.

The plug may have a finger engageable portion which facilitates rotatingthe plug in the port thereby to secure the plug in the port.

The plug may have a groove for an o-ring which, in use, is fitted withan o-ring which engages with the inner walls of the port thereby to forma seal.

The system may include several multi-port transmission line connectorsand a commensurate number of plugs.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided atransmission line connector having a body which has at least fivechannels defined therein for connecting one signal transmission line toat least 4 signal transmission lines in a blasting system fortransferring blasting signals from the one signal transmission line tothe 4 or more signal transmission lines.

The connector may have one port for securing an incoming signaltransmission line and 4 or more ports for securing the 4 or moreoutgoing signal transmission lines.

The ports are typically located at open ends of the channels in thebody.

The ports may include securing means for securing the signaltransmission lines relative to the channels.

The securing means may sealingly secure the signal transmission means tothe connector or the connector body.

The securing means may be in the form of a frictionally engaging clip, aclamping socket, or one or more recess or slot for securing acomplementary plug having two or more lateral protrusions which engagethe recess or slot to secure a plug to a port.

The plug and port may be a securable bayonet fitting fashion.

The plug may have a passage therethrough for securing the transmissionline within the passage thereby securing the transmission line to theplug.

The transmission line may be securable to the plug by sonic welding,chemical bonding, heat bonding, and the like.

The plug may have a finger engageable portion which facilitates forrotation of the plug in the port thereby securing the plug.

The plug may have a groove for an o-ring which, in use, is fitted withan o-ring which engages with the inner walls of the port thereby to forma seal, however, there are many other methods for forming a seal whichare included in the scope and spirit of this invention.

One of the channels may be taken as the input end of signal transmissionand one or more of the others, as the output end, wherein each channelis opened to a center cavity, thus enabling the input end and output endof transmission line to transfer the blasting signal through the centrecavity.

The size and shape of channel may match the signal transmission line.

When the plug into which the signal transmission line is secured andinserted into a port from one end, it may be received and retained inthe port and the blasting signals is thus transferred through the centrecavity.

Likewise, a signal transmission line may be secured and sealed directlyinto a port without a plug and the blasting signals thus transferredthrough the centre cavity.

The shock wave of one transmission line may be safely transferred to theother transmission lines.

The body may include channels which transit from the centre cavity tothe ends of all channels including their transition sections.

The body may include channel sections which connect small diametersections at a centre zone of the body to larger diameter sections at theends of the channels which form the ports or to which the signaltransmission lines are secured.

The connector may be manufactured from a plastics material.

The plug may be made of a plastics material.

The plug may be made of a sonic welding compatible plastics material forsonically welding to the transmission lines, typically plastic materialsimilar to that of the transmission lines.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided atransmission line system for connecting 5 or more detonators at leastthree of which are distributed over several boreholes and transmitting ashock wave from one transmission line to 4 or more other connectedtransmission lines, said system including a transmission line connectorhaving a body which has at least five channels therein for connectingone signal transmission line with 4 or more signal transmission lines ina blasting system for transferring blasting signals, the channels havingsecuring means for securing the transmission lines thereto.

Ports may be provided at a free end of each of the channels so that thesignal transmission lines are secured to the connector by means of theports.

The signal transmission lines may be sealingly secured to the ports.

One or more of the ports of the system may have one or more recess orslot for securing a complementary plug having two or more lateralprotrusions which engage the recess or slot to secure a plug to a port,and a complementary number of plugs to the number of ports, each plughaving two or more lateral protrusions which engage the recess or slotto secure a plug to a port and a passage therethrough for securing thetransmission line within the passage thereby securing the transmissionline to the plug.

The system may include one or more detonators located at remote ends ofone or more of the transmission lines.

The plug may have a finger engageable portion which facilitates rotatingthe plug in the port thereby to secure the plug in the port.

The plug may have a groove for an o-ring which, in use, is fitted withan o-ring which engages with the inner walls of the port thereby to forma seal.

The system may include several transmission line connectors connectedtogether by signal transmission means for connecting detonators placedin boreholes in a configuration which requires at least one set of fivedetonators to be in detonation signal communication whereby one of thedetonators transmits a detonation signal to four or more otherdetonators in the system.

The invention extends to a method of connecting a plurality ofdetonators in boreholes whereby the detonation sequence requires one ormore detonators to each transmit a detonation signal to 4 or moredetonators for the propagation of a blast, said transmission of thedetonation signal being by means of a transmission line connector of theinvention.

The method may provide for propagating a blast signal for detonatingthree detonators in boreholes as well as a fourth detonator whichfurther propagates the signal directly from a single blast signal.

The method may include the use of delay elements to delay thepropagation of the detonation signal.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described, by way of non limiting exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a four port connector block of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the use of a four port connector block of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a five port connector block of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows the use of a five port connector block of the invention;and

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the four port connector block

In FIG. 1 of the drawings, a four-port transmission line connector 10has four channels 12, 14, 16, 17 therein for connecting a first signaltransmission line with three signal transmission lines 20 in a blastingsystem for transferring blasting signals. The four channels 12, 14, 16,17 have at their open ends ports 24, 26, 27, 28.

The ports 24, 26, 27, 28 and channels 12, 14, 16, 17 have locatedtherein an inner sleeve 30 of deformable material, such as rubber, andlocated between the inner sleeve 30 and the body 11 a crimpablesecondary sleeve 32 such that, in use, when a shock tube or signaltransmission tube 18 has been inserted into a port 24, 26, 27, 28 andpasses through the inner sleeve 30, a portion of the secondary sleeve 32is crimped thereby to deform the inner sleeve 30 and to seal against theshock tube 20 thereby retaining the shock tube 20 in position andinhibiting the ingress of water into the connector 10 through said port.

One of the channels 17 is the input end of signal transmission and 14,16, 12 are the output ends, wherein each channel is opened to a centercavity, thus enabling the input end 12 and output ends 14, 16, 17 oftransmission line 18 to transfer the blasting signal through the centercavity.

One of the ports and channels has inserted therein a delay igniter whichcomplies with UN 1,4 S thereby to delay the transmission of the signalas desired.

When the signal transmission lines are secured into the ports 24, 26,27, 28 from one end, they will be received and retained in the ports andthe blasting signals are transferred through the center cavity. Thus,the shock wave of one transmission line 18 is safely transferred to theother transmission lines.

In FIG. 2, for ease of description, the ports have been assignedordinates 1, 2, 3, and 4.

In use, a detonation signal is transmitted into port 4 and thenpropagates via the centre cavity to ports 1 and 2 where the shock tubesignal transmission lines transmit the signal further, for example, todetonators or igniters. The signal is also propagated to port 3 whichincludes a delay igniter, as described above, which delays furtherpropagation of the signal to the next multi-port connector in a series.

The signal then propagates to port 4 of the next multi-port connectorand the propagation proceeds as before.

The advantage of the present invention includes the ease of assemblyunderground.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings, a five-port transmission line connector 10has five channels 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 defined therein for connecting afirst signal transmission line 18 with four signal transmission lines20, 21, 22, 23 in a blasting system for transferring blasting signals.The five channels 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 have at their open ends ports 24,25, 26, 27, 28.

The ports 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 each are provided with means, whetherconventional or novel, for sealingly securing the signal transmissionlines 18, 20 to 23 in the ports 24 to 28. The sealingly securing may beby way of provision of plugs at the ends of the signal transmissionlines 18, 20 to 23

The one or more of the transmission lines 18, 20 to 23 are secured totheir ports 24 to 28 by sonic welding, chemical bonding, heat bonding,and the like.

The invention extends to a method of connecting a plurality ofdetonators in boreholes whereby the detonation sequence requires one ormore detonators to each transmit a detonation signal to 4 or moredetonators for the propagation of a blast, said transmission of thedetonation signal being by means of a transmission line connector of theinvention, for example, as shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5 is shown a four port connector block wherein three of theports are preassembled with signal transmission tubes crimped in placeand the fourth port has a clip for assembly on site by clipping insignal transmission system into the port. The clip may be a frictionallyengaging clip or a barb and socket type clip and may be applicable toother embodiments of the invention. The barb and socket type clip relieson a shoulder portion of the inserted element at the end of the signaltransmission line being retained in the port by one or more barbsprovided in the port, which barbs may be resiliently deformable topermit the element to pass into the port.

It is believed that one of the advantages of the present inventionincludes the ease of assembly underground.

1-27. (canceled)
 28. A multi-port transmission line connector having abody which has at least four ports and channels therein for connectingone signal transmission line with multiple signal transmission lines ina blasting system for transferring blasting signals, the at least fourports having a bore there through, wherein each bore is opened to acenter cavity, thus enabling the input end and output end of thetransmission lines to transfer the blasting signal through the centercavity and wherein in at least one of the ports is located an innersleeve of deformable material and located between the inner sleeve andthe body a crimpable secondary sleeve such that, in use, when a shocktube has been inserted into the port and passes through the innersleeve, a portion of the secondary sleeve is crimped thereby to deformthe inner sleeve and to seal against the shock tube thereby retainingthe shock tube in position and inhibiting the ingress of water into theconnector through said port.
 29. The connector as claimed in claim 28,wherein the inner sleeve is made of a resiliently deformable material.30. The connector as claimed in claim 28, wherein the secondary sleeveis made of a metal.
 31. The connector as claimed in claim 28, whereinone of the channels is the input end a signal transmission line and oneor more of the others, the output end.
 32. The connector as claimed inclaim 28, wherein in a four port connector, three of the ports arepreassembled with the shock tube crimped in position, with a fourth portavailable for assembly and/or crimping on site.
 33. The connector asclaimed in claim 32, wherein one of the pre-assembled ports includes oris connected to a delay igniter in accordance with UN 1.4S so that, inuse, the transmission of the shockwave to a further connector block orto a detonator or igniter is delayed.
 34. The connector as claimed inclaim 31, wherein the body includes channels which transit from thecenter cavity to the ends of all channels including their transitionsections, or from the small diameter sections at the center part to thelarge diameter sections at the ends of all channels which form theports.
 35. The connector as claimed in claim 31, which has at least fourports and which has at least five channels defined therein forconnecting one signal transmission line to at least 4 signaltransmission lines in a blasting system for transferring blastingsignals from the one signal transmission line to the 4 or more signaltransmission lines.
 36. The connector as claimed in claim 35, which hasone port for securing an incoming signal transmission line and 4 or moreports for securing the 4 or more outgoing signal transmission lines. 37.The connector as claimed in claim 36, in which the ports includesecuring means for securing the signal transmission lines relative tothe channels.
 38. The connector as claimed in claim 37, wherein thesecuring means sealingly secure the signal transmission means to theconnector or the connector body.
 39. The connector as claimed in claim37, wherein the securing means are in the form of a frictionallyengaging clip, a clamping socket, or one or more recess or slot forsecuring a complementary plug having two or more lateral protrusionswhich engage the recess or slot to secure a plug to a port.
 40. Theconnector as claimed in claim 35, wherein one of the channels is theinput port for signal transmission and one or more of the others are theoutput ports, wherein each channel is opened to a center cavity.
 41. Atransmission line system for connecting several detonators distributedover several boreholes and transmitting a shock wave from onetransmission line to other connected transmission lines, said systemincluding: a multi-port transmission line connector having a body whichhas at least four ports and channels therein for connecting one signaltransmission line with multiple signal transmission lines in a blastingsystem for transferring blasting signals, one or more of the portshaving a bore there through, in which is located an inner sleeve ofdeformable material and located between the inner sleeve and the body acrimpable secondary sleeve such that, in use, when a shock tube has beeninserted into the port and passes through the inner sleeve, a portion ofthe secondary sleeve is crimped thereby to deform the inner sleeve andto seal against the shock tube thereby retaining the shock tube inposition and inhibiting the ingress of water into the connector throughsaid port, wherein each bore is opened to a center cavity, thus enablingthe input end and output end of the transmission lines to transfer theblasting signal through the center cavity; and a complementary but onenumber of transmission lines crimped in position prior to bringing ofthe connector on site, and an additional free signal transmission linefor assembling and/or crimping into an open port of the connector onsite.
 42. The system as claimed in claim 41, wherein the system includesone or more detonators located at remote ends of one or more of thetransmission lines.
 43. The system as claimed in claim 41, wherein thesystem includes several multi-port transmission line connectors.
 44. Atransmission line system for connecting 5 or more detonators at leastthree of which are distributed over several boreholes and transmitting ashock wave from one transmission line to 4 or more other connectedtransmission lines, said system including a multi-port transmission lineconnector as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 13 having a body whichhas at least five channels therein for connecting one signaltransmission line with 4 or more signal transmission lines in a blastingsystem for transferring blasting signals, the channels having securingmeans for securing the transmission lines thereto.
 45. The system asclaimed in claim 44, including several multi-port transmission lineconnectors as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 13 connected together bysignal transmission means for connecting detonators placed in boreholesin a configuration which requires at least one set of five detonators tobe in detonation signal communication whereby one of the detonatorstransmits a detonation signal to four or more other detonators in thesystem.
 46. A method of connecting a plurality of detonators inboreholes whereby the detonation sequence requires one or moredetonators to each transmit a detonation signal to 4 or more detonatorsfor the propagation of a blast, said transmission of the detonationsignal being by means of multi-port transmission line connector asclaimed in any one of claims 35 to
 40. 47. The method as claimed inclaim 46, which provides for propagating a blast signal for detonatingthree detonators in boreholes as well as a fourth detonator whichfurther propagates the signal directly from a single blast signal. 48.The method as claimed in claim 46, which includes the use of delayelements to delay the propagation of the detonation signal.